The Wonderful Benefits Of Water Fluoridation
Why you should be grateful for the fluoride in your water
There are many amazing public health advancements from the 20th century. Antibiotics, vaccination, sewerage systems - all things we now take for granted that have been developed so that you and I can have a healthier life than people who came before us.
Among the most fascinating improvements in public health is water fluoridation. This is the practice of adding a tiny amount of the naturally-occurring fluoride into the water supply for places where there isn’t much fluorine in the environment. Many high-income nations put some amount of fluorine in public drinking water, although in some countries it’s instead added to other things like salt.
The practice of water fluoridation has always been very controversial. Fluoride, like pretty much all substances, is highly toxic in very substantial doses. In addition, there have long been concerns that even tiny amounts of fluoride can cause ill health, especially in children.
Fortunately, the evidence is quite clear that water fluoridation is a massive public health win. In the extremely low quantities that we add to drinking water, fluoride prevents dental decay and has no noticeable negative health effects.
Let’s look at the science.
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